Author Archives: Steven Yates

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About Steven Yates

I have a Ph.D. in Philosophy, taught the subject at a number of universities around the American Southeast, then became disillusioned in the profession, moved to Chile in 2012. I am the author of Civil Wrongs: What Went Wrong With Affirmative Action (1994), Four Cardinal Errors: Reasons for the Decline of the American Republic (2011), What Should Philosophy Do? A Theory (2021), and most recently, So You Want to Get a PhD in Philosophy? (2025). I've also published around two dozen articles & reviews in academic journals, and hundreds online on numerous topics ranging from pure philosophy to political economy. My Substack publication is Navigating the New Normal. I currently live near Concepcion, Chile, with my wife Gisela and our two spoiled cats.

Truth Teller’s Dilemma, Part 1

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Steven Yates

[Author’s note: this was previously posted elsewhere, but it strikes me that all three parts of this extended essay should be available on the same site. This will render them out of order, but I think my readers are smart … Continue reading →

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Truth-Teller’s Dilemma, Part 3

Posted on April 19, 2018 by Steven Yates

“Truth-Teller’s Dilemma” concluded: if you care about the truth or those trying to tell it, support them (us)! Continue reading →

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Truth-Teller’s Dilemma, Part 2

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Steven Yates

Truth-Teller’s Dilemma, Part 2, continued from Part 1: what reason is there for believing mainstream (corporate) institutions care about the truth? Continue reading →

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Consciousness Denialism: Galen Strawson vs. Daniel Dennett

Posted on April 9, 2018 by Steven Yates

Denialism? The term suggests something irrational at best, maybe even malicious. After all, that’s the word used by climate scientists for those who don’t believe climate change is happening. Is it a good idea to invoke such a concept when … Continue reading →

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A Look Behind the Cultural Marxism Controversy: A Sort of Introduction

Posted on March 10, 2018 by Steven Yates

[Author’s note: this developed in response to an exchange of opinions on a Facebook forum, during which it became clear to me that any fruitful advance of the discussion called for something more detailed than could be attempted in a … Continue reading →

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Why Donald Trump Won in 2016, Chapter Umpteen Thousand and Counting….

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Steven Yates

Matt Bai’s Yahoo! columns are usually worth one’s time, however annoying they often are with their unexamined assumptions. Bill Kristol, son of neoconservative godfather Irving Kristol interviewed here, doesn’t seem to distinguish between conservatism and neoconservatism, and the problems only … Continue reading →

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Leopold Kohr: the Political Philosopher / Economist Who Predicted the Rise of the U.S. Empire & Police State

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Steven Yates

Who was Leopold Kohr, and does his work matter today?  Kohr (1909 – 1994), about whom I’ve written at greater length here, was both a trained economist and political philosopher. His background included obtaining doctorates at the University of Vienna … Continue reading →

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Dichotomous Thinking in Western Philosophy and Political Economy (An Occasional Philosophical Note #2)

Posted on January 31, 2018 by Steven Yates

If there is any trait more characteristic of the mainstream of Western philosophical thought than the prevalence of dichotomies — either-ors, one might say — it would be difficult to identify what it might be. Another useful term for the … Continue reading →

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Globalism: Optimism, Pessimism, and Dystopian Visions (Part Three, Plus References)

Posted on December 21, 2017 by Steven Yates

In replying to Dean Allen’s remarks (Part Two), I had intended to restrict myself to a few points, but fear I have instead written another book (lol) and can only hope readers will bear with me. While part of me … Continue reading →

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Globalism: Optimism, Pessimism, and Dystopian Visions. (Part Two.)

Posted on December 19, 2017 by Steven Yates

It gives me a certain gratitude to be able to introduce the first post on Lost Generation Philosopher the bulk of which was written by someone other than myself. Dean Allen — author (see Allen 2012*), longstanding Republican Party activist and … Continue reading →

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